We drove to a small village in Livingston called Indeco. Our plan for the day was to walk around the village to invite children for a bible study at a local church.
As we walked, kids came running out of their homes immediately following us. I saw smiles on the parent’s faces. They weren’t hesitant or nervous. They didn’t wonder if their kids would be safe. They welcomed us and trusted us.
In just 15 minutes of walking around the community we ended up having about 60 children following us. Our translator Charles led a chant, “Mwa li waka na ka!” meaning God is good!
I held back tears of joy and awe as children surrounded me. My hands full of little hands and some even grabbing me for hugs. All this happened while the praise “God is good!” resounded.
I felt emotional because this experience made me think of Jesus calling me to follow Him. How often do I willingly do so without any hesitation, with joy in my heart, and with all my trust in His hands. The children showed me that being excited for the Lord is really so simple. Why complicate it with doubts when my life is in the hands of the one who invites me to himself.
At this moment I heard His words, “come, let all the little children come to me” (Matthew 19:14). As I held two little girls‘ hands we jumped over puddles, counted as we skipped, and laughed so loudly that our cheeks hurt. He reminded me to “have a child like faith” (Matthew 18:2-4), a faith the is willing to be fascinated.
I heard His name proclaimed through the village. And as we sang louder more came. When we got to the church we had about 200 children present. They came willingly ready to play, to sing, to dance, and to learn about Jesus.
Our Bible study was for the children, but I learned something new also — a child’s approach to learning about Jesus is so much fun. I want my relationship with Him to be filled with this excitement and desire to always see Him with child-like eyes of wonder.
